a day ago
Fire ban declared for Darwin, Palmerston, Coomalie and Litchfield due to ‘high fire danger'
A 24-hour fire ban was declared for Darwin, Palmerston, Coomalie and Litchfield on Tuesday.
The declaration means during the 24 hours from 12am Tuesday, August 19, to 12am August 20, no person shall light a fire or cause a fire to be lit in the open in the portion of the Northern Territory within the fire ban areas.
Bushfires NT acting executive director Jacqui Forrest said a combination of risk factors led to the declaration.
'With high fire danger forecast for Darwin, Palmerston, Coomalie and Litchfield tomorrow, conditions will be challenging and fire may be difficult to control,' Ms Forrest said.
'Low humidity, high temperatures, sustained south-easterly winds and dry fuel loads mean fire can spread quickly and unpredictably.
'We urge everyone to be prepared and take appropriate fire safety precautions, follow their Bushfire Survival Plan, and report any unattended fires to triple-0 (000) immediately.'
NT Fire and Rescue Services (NTFRS) chief fire officer Stephen Sewell urged residents to be careful during the fire ban period.
'This is a reminder that during a fire ban any deliberate or accidental lighting of fire has the potential to develop into an extended duration fire with significant resource requirements for suppression and containment,' he said.
'Bushfire safety is everyone's responsibility.
'You can play your part by having a current bushfire survival plan and going through it with all members of your household, so they know what to do and where to go in the event of an emergency.'
